Smoke and Water Damage

LA Testing provides analytical services to identify smoke residues, mold, lead and asbestos hazards following a building fire.

Garden Grove, CA, April 16th, 2015

Last month, KRON 4 published a report about a two-alarm fire at a building in Oakland. Although a dozen of people were displaced, firefighters were able to contain the fire to a single apartment. Several other apartments sustained heavy smoke damage and a business on the ground level reportedly suffered water damage from the fire suppression efforts.

Depending on the size of a building fire, type of structure it takes place in, and proximity to other homes or buildings, there may often be additional property damage to nearby buildings or adjacent units not directly touched by flames, as was the case in Oakland. This type of property damage mainly consists of smoke and water damage. If the water damage is left untreated, mold will often begin to grow in as short as 48 hours.

“Another concern in older buildings is the possible presence of asbestos and lead-based paints that may be disturbed during firefighting, reconstruction and remediation activities,” said Michael Chapman, Laboratory Manager at LA Testing’s Garden Grove facility. “When a fire does occur, it’s important for people to check their property for smoke and water damage. At LA Testing, we offer all of the sampling supplies and testing services to identify smoke residues, mold, asbestos, lead and other potential hazards so that properties impacted by fires can be safely repaired and that there are no remaining indoor environmental health and safety concerns for future building occupants.”

LA Testing recently sponsored an educational video about fire, smoke and water damage that can be seen at: http://youtu.be/8tEl-BOvwNw.

LA Testing is California’s leading laboratory for indoor air quality testing of asbestos, mold, lead, VOCs, formaldehyde, soot, char, ash and smoke damage, particulates and other substances. In addition, LA Testing offers a full range of air sampling and investigative equipment to professionals and the general public. LA Testing maintains an extensive list of accreditations including: AIHA LAP LLC., AIHA ELLAP, AIHA EMLAP and AIHA IHLAP, CDC ELITE, NVLAP, State of California, State of Hawaii Department of Health and other states. LA Testing, along with the EMSL Analytical, Inc. network, has multiple laboratories throughout California including South Pasadena, Garden Grove, San Leandro and San Diego.